BREAKING …DEWEY & LEBOEUF TERMINATES CLIENTS IN D.C.: The beleaguered law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf has terminated a slate of clients in its Washington lobbying practice. The firm filed on Tuesday for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and earlier this month terminated 450 employees in New York. According to federal lobbying records, Dewey terminated its contracts with AFLAC, the Dutch Association of Insurers, Fidelity National Financial, Hannover Re Group, the International Underwriting Association, Lloyd's of London, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts and the Trans-Elect Development Company.

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POLICY, INFLUENCE TIP SHEET TO SHUT DOWN:Public Policy Matters, a daily, nonpartisan email compilation of news and policy positions from government entities, special interest groups and trade organizations, announced this afternoon that it’s closing shop for good. “In the final analysis and as it is in most cases, it came down to money (or lack thereof),” wrote publisher Edward Zuckerman. “We were simply unable to justify using our own personal funds to keep the service going when the money from too few supporters ran out.” It appeared Public Policy Matters, a project of the nonprofit Institute for Public Policy Reporting that touts 2,900 registered users, would close months ago. But an influx of cash kept it afloat. “I am grateful for the help you gave and saddened that I was not able to find a sufficient number of people who shared your generosity,” Zuckerman continued. “But, had you not contributed, the demise of PPM would have occurred sooner than it did.”

EVERYTHING'S BIGGER IN TEXAS: And that includes outside spending. As Texas holds its primaries today, super PACs and other outside political groups have accounted for almost $7.85 million worth of independent expenditures specifically targeting Lone Star State congressional races, with most of that cash going toward the Republican Senate primary, a PI analysis of federal records indicates. That's easily more than the independent expenditures made in states with other key House and Senate primaries, including Indiana, California and Nebraska. And although congressional primaries in Texas have been raging for months, the bulk of independent expenditures within the state — almost $5.8 million of it — has occurred during the past three weeks, federal records show. In the Senate race, Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz, former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert and ex-football star Craig James lead in a race that will turn into a July 31 runoff if no single candidate wins half the vote. Groups such as the pro-Cruz FreedomWorks for America, Senate Conservatives Fund and Club for Growth PAC have been among the most active organizations, either producing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of ads promoting Cruz, or attacking his opponents. The pro-Dewhurst Conservative Renewal Political Action Committee has also spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of him.

LOBBYISTS, TRADE GROUPS SOUR ON GOP CONVENTION: Republicans aren’t living up to their moniker — the Grand Old Party — at this summer’s national convention. Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, Time Warner and United Airlines aren’t on hosting duty. Trade groups like the American Chemistry Council, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association and the International Franchise Association are planning on staying home as well. And many of the K Street outfits that are going plan to cut back from years past — hosting lunches instead of blowout parties, for instance. Read Anna’s full story here: http://politi.co/JShXoZ

A good Tuesday to you, PI faithful, as we hope you enjoyed the long weekend and some rest and relaxation. While Memorial Day is an opportunity to honor the nation’s war dead, it’s worth noting that numerous entities routinely lobby in D.C. for veterans, both living and deceased, according to congressional disclosure records. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund has regularly spent from $30,000 to $110,000 annually in recent years on federal lobbying efforts. The American Vets Disabled for Life Memorial organization has since 2005 spent $340,000. And several dozen groups primarily representing the interests of living veterans also have demonstrable lobbying presences, including Disabled American Veterans ($700,000 in 2011), Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America ($240,000 in 2011) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars ($40,000 in 2011).

Thanks very much for reading, and now, back to the day’s top influence industry news …

JOHN EDWARDS TRIAL WATCH, DAY 26: Today marks the seventh day of jury deliberations in the campaign finance trial of former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), and there are some signs that there are issues with the jury, our Josh Gerstein reports from the courtroom. Details here: http://politi.co/K8QV2p

HOMECARE ASSOCIATION HIRES RANKIN FROM HEALTH PLAN ALLIANCE: The American Association for Homecare has hired Peter Rankin as its new manager of government affairs. Rankin comes to AAH from the Alliance of Community Health Plans and Stateside Associates and will work with legislators, regulators and stakeholders from the association’s Arlington, Va., headquarters. AAH represents providers of home medical services or durable medical equipment.

BERGESON SIGNS SEVEN WITH ADDITION OF THORNE: The Environmental law firm Bergeson & Campbell has signed seven new clients after the addition of John Thorne to its government affairs practice last month. Thorne brought with him five former clients from his former firm, Crowell & Moring: Bayer CropScience, CropLife America, the National Agricultural Aviation Association, the Pesticide Policy Group and SQM North America Corporation. Syngenta, which also was registered with Crowell in 2011, signed a new contract with Bergeson. And Dow AgroSciences added Thorne to its roster of outside lobbyists.

SPOTTED: Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow and Chris Matthews on Nantucket over the Memorial Day weekend.

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THE 17 BEST SUPER PAC NAMES … SO FAR:Raptors for Jesus. Just Drink the Koolaid. Cats for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow. These, so decrees POLITICO, are among the most wackily named super PACs in operation today. Read ‘em all here: http://politi.co/N6cO0n. But be warned: With more super PACs forming by the day, something like the I Ride Inside — The Pets Against Romney Committee might seem awfully tame come autumn.

NEWT GINGRICH’S ADVICE TO MARTIN O’MALLEY? Speaking Sunday on NBC’s “ Meet the Press,” former Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich had this bit of advice for Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, who might be considering a 2016 bid for the White House: “Raise a lot of money.” Abby has the details: http://politi.co/LCd8EZ

FEC PUBLISHES DISCLOSURE DIRECTORY: The Federal Election Commission is out with a combined federal and state campaign disclosure and elections directory. View it here: http://1.usa.gov/K8DVdg

- It may take months before broadcasters must publish political advertising data online, per the FCC ruling earlier this year, reports Justin Elliott of ProPublica: http://bit.ly/JSlun8

- Casinos and racetracks have been big winners thanks to strong lobbying efforts in New Jersey, writes Bob Jordan of the Asbury Park Press: http://on.app.com/LEcPFH

- A cool $55 million went to benefit conservative politics during the 2010 election cycle. But where did it come from, ask Matea Gold and Joseph Tanfani of the Los Angeles Times: http://lat.ms/JyyKT2

DAILY FUNNY: In bringing "A Prairie Home Companion" to suburban D.C.’s Wolf Trap theater this weekend, radio showman Garrison Keillor couldn’t resist poking fun at a pair of PI’s favorite subjects: lobbyists and political committees. In one segment during Friday night’s not-for-broadcast performance that PI attended, cast member Fred Newman played the role of a snarling wolf that’s descended from the Wolf Trap lawn above. The crowd gamely howled when prompted. Who are all those howling creatures above? Keillor asked. “That’s my pack,” Newman replied. But there must be hundreds up there, Keillor pressed. Newman thought a moment. “That’s my super PAC!” he deadpanned.

In another segment, Keillor, playing private investigator character Guy Noir, finds himself on a job in downtown D.C. — and in a scrape with a gun-brandishing, if dim-witted lobbyist. One thing leads to another and Noir escapes after conning the lobbyist into giving him the gun, and then, knocking the K Streeter upside the head. Ouch.

AUDIO … PI ON THE AIRWAVES:Guy Raz of National Public Radio’s "All Things Considered" interviewed Dave this weekend as part of a report on the influence of outside money in the 2012 presidential race. Listen here: http://n.pr/K8qf1S And WBEN-AM 930 in Buffalo also interviewed Dave this morning about today’s Texas primary. Audio here: http://bit.ly/JrBw7T

NEW POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE FILINGS: Nada.

NEW LOBBYING REGISTRATIONS (firm : client): Zilch.

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Authors:

About The Author

Anna Palmer is a senior Washington correspondent for POLITICO and co-author of POLITICO’s Playbook, the most indispensable morning newsletter for the biggest influencers in politics.

Anna covers the world of Congress and politics, and has successfully chronicled the business of Washington insiders for years. Her stories take readers behind the scenes for the biggest fights in Washington as well as the 2016 election.

Prior to becoming POLITICO’s senior Washington correspondent, Anna was the co-author of the daily newsletter, POLITICO Influence, considered a must-read on K Street.

Anna previously covered House leadership and lobbying as a staff writer for Roll Call. She got her start in Washington journalism as a lobbying business reporter for the industry newsletter Influence. She has also worked at Legal Times, where she covered the intersection of money and politics for the legal and lobbying industry, first as a staff writer and then as an editor.

A native of North Dakota, Anna is a graduate of St. Olaf College, where she was executive editor of the weekly campus newspaper, the Manitou Messenger. She lives in Washington, D.C.

About The Author

Dave Levinthal reports on political influence issues for POLITICO. Before joining POLITICO, Dave worked for two years as editor of OpenSecrets.org at the Center for Responsive Politics, where he oversaw the Center's original journalism and provided analysis to hundreds of television, radio and print news outlets.

Between 2003 and 2009, Dave reported on Dallas City Hall for The Dallas Morning News, and from 2000 to 2002, covered the New Hampshire Statehouse for the Lawrence (Mass.) Eagle-Tribune. He graduated from Syracuse University with degrees in newspaper journalism and political philosophy and edited The Daily Orange.

Some may argue, but there is no more dedicated Bills fan than this Buffalo, N.Y., native.